‘IT appears the uMlalazi Municipality is not sensitive to the needs of the disabled’.
These were the words of Dumisani Gamede (MP) after trying to renew his driver’s licence at the eShowe testing station.
He says he complained three years ago about access for the disabled to the eye-testing station and nothing has been done to improve the situation.
On Monday, 24 February he had to visit the testing station to replace a lost driver’s licence and found a prefab building erected with three steps which were not wheelchair friendly.
There steps leading into the offices also did not have hand rails.
In explaining the situation, station manager Gerrie Annandale said that he had raised concerns about access before the erection of the building and the uMlalazi Municipal building inspector Gerhard de Jager had visited the site.
It was felt that there was no solution to address the problem with space being a limiting factor.
The building is a temporary structure until the new testing station is completed in the industrial area.
It is believed the present site is owned by Department of Works with RTI as main tenants.
The drivers testing function has been allocated to the uMlalazi Municipality.
Gamede was unable to contact either top management of RTI or the uMlalazi Municipality for comment.
